Canberra Preview & Best Bets – 29/12/2023

Canberra Tips for Friday, December 29

Our form expert provides Canberra tips for today’s horse racing at Canberra Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Rae 8:  No.3  INCENTIVE  ($3.50 with bet365)

Locally-trained by Keith Dryden, INCENTIVE is unbeaten in two starts this time in and looks a rock-solid chance of bringing up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Capitalist gelding came off a first-up win in a BM74 at the Sapphire Coast when he franked that effort by dishing out the same result in Open company at Moruya. James P Innes was aboard for both victories and remains the pilot for today’s contest. He is already a winner when third-up and a four-time winner over the 1000m sprint. Given a touch of luck at barrier rise, he can cross and settle just behind the speed from gate seven and should prove hard to hold out again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.3  TAP ‘N’ RUN  ($3.20 with Picklebet)

The Ron Stubbs-trained TAP ‘N’ RUN is third-up today and looks a better than even chance of going back-to-back in this contest. Last start, the Reward For Effort gelding improved greatly from his first-up effort when he easily accounted for an Open Hcp over 1200m at Wagga. With Mathew Cahill in the saddle, he settled last of the seven runners but finished over the top of them to score by almost two lengths on the line. He meets similar company here as Cahill sticks with him for the assignment. He is a three-time winner when third-up and a two-time winner over the trip. A clear run to the line should see him hard to hold out today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.2  ZABELLSARERINGING  ($3.75 with BoomBet)

Gundagai galloper ZABELLSARERINGING is three starts into this preparation and looks ready to win today. Last start, the Zariz gelding made it consecutive second placings when he beat all but one home in a Class 1, here over the mile on a Heavy 10 that day. Already a winner over the trip, he should be at his peak today with three runs under his belt. He maps to settle near mid-field from gate nine and with a touch of luck in running, he can give this contest a real shake.